Canada report on Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Nijjar’s killing: ‘No definitive link to foreign state’ in disinformation campaign

The report by Canada’s Foreign Interference Commission, which runs into seven volumes, was commissioned to look into foreign interference in the country’s elections and democratic processes including intra-party elections.

“Disinformation is also used as a retaliatory tactic, to punish decisions that run contrary to a state’s interests. This may have been the case with a disinformation campaign that followed the Prime Minister’s announcement regarding suspected Indian involvement in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar (though again no definitive link to a foreign state could be proven),” it said.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Tuesday rejected the Canadian probe report identifying India as the “second most active country” (after China) engaging in electoral foreign interference in Canada, and said that in fact, it was Canada which has been consistently interfering in India’s internal affairs.

“We have seen a report about alleged activities on purported interference. It is in fact Canada which has been consistently interfering in India’s internal affairs. This has also created an environment for illegal migration and organised criminal activities. We reject the report’s insinuations on India and expect that the support system enabling illegal migration will not be further countenanced,” MEA said in an official statement.

While the initial report in May last year had pointed to China as the “most persistent and sophisticated foreign interference threat to Canada,” the final report lays out the ways in which India has become the “second most active country engaging in electoral foreign interference in Canada.”

Commissioner Marie-Josée Hogue, who led the inquiry, wrote, “Like the PRC (People’s Republic of China), India conducts foreign interference through diplomatic officials in Canada and through proxies”.

“A body of intelligence indicates that proxy agents may have, and may continue to be, clandestinely providing illicit financial support to various Canadian politicians in an attempt to secure the election of pro-India candidates or gain influence over candidates who take office.” “The intelligence does not necessarily indicate that the elected officials or candidates involved were aware of the interference attempts, or that the attempts necessarily succeeded,” she added.

The report names Russia, Pakistan, and Iran as other countries considered foreign interference threats to Canada.